United MileagePlus Explorer Credit Card Review
Unitedā Explorer from Chase ā all information about the credit card.
Good Choose for Honeymoon
- Rewards Rate:
- 2x Miles on United purchases, dining and hotel stays.
- 1x Mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Intro Offer:
- 50,000x Bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Annual Fee:$0 for the first year
$95 thereafter - Purchase Intro APR:None
- Regular APR:21.99% - 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR:21.99% - 28.99% Variable
We recommend more cards
Chase Unitedā Explorer Rewards Calculator
All benefits
- Miles
- 2x On United purchases, dining and hotel stays.
- 1x On all other purchases.
- Travel
- $Free first checked bag ā save up to 140 per roundtrip The primary Cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first standard checked bag free ā calculated as up to a $35 value for the first checked bag, each way, per person ā on United-operated flights when purchasing tickets with their United Explorer Card.
- No foreign transaction fees:
- You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside of the United States.
- Priority boarding:
- The primary Cardmember and companions on the same reservation will be invited to board United-operated flights prior to general boarding.
- $Up to 100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheckĀ® fee credit Receive a statement credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheckĀ® when charged to your card.
- $2 United ClubSM one-time passes each anniversary - over a 100 value Take some time to relax before your flight with two United Club one-time passes, which will be deposited into your MileagePlus account after account opening and each year for your Cardmember anniversary.
- 25% back on United inflight purchases:
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights when you pay with your Explorer Card.
- Premier upgrades on award tickets:
- The primary Cardmember who is also a MileagePlus PremierĀ® member and traveling on an award ticket can take advantage of Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated flights (when available).
- The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection:
- Stay in style with room upgrades, complimentary daily breakfast for two, early check-in, late checkout (if available) and other amenities at more than 1,000 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide.
- United Card Events from Chase:
- Purchase private, curated once-in-a-lifetime experiences ā from celebrity meet-and-greets to private culinary and sports events.
- United MileagePlusĀ® Cardmember Exclusives:
- United MileagePlus Visa SignatureĀ® Cardmembers may use award miles to enjoy exclusive experiences, such as winemaker dinners and other unique virtual events.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver:
- Decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Baggage Delay Insurance:
- Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 3 days.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement:
- If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
- Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance:
- You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.
- Trip Delay Reimbursement:
- If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket.
- Visa Concierge:
- Get complimentary Visa SignatureĀ® Concierge Service 24 hours a day. Find tickets to the top sports and entertainment events, make dinner reservations and even get help sending the perfect gift.
- MileagePlus miles:
- In addition to earning miles for purchases made with your card, you can earn miles by flying with UnitedSM, United ExpressĀ®, Star Allianceā¢ and other airline partners. You can also earn miles from Mileage Plus partners for hotel stays and car rentals, online shopping, eGift card purchases and by using the MileagePlus X app to pay at your favorite restaurants and retailers.
Rate and fee information
- Purchase Intro APR
- None
- Purchase APR
- 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- None
- Balance Transfers APR
- 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
- APR for Cash Advances
- 29.99% Variable
- How to Avoid Paying Interest
- Your due date will be a minimum of 21 days after the close of each billing cycle. You will not be charged interest on new purchases if you pay your entire balance or Interest Saving Balance by the due date each month. You will be charged interest on balance transfers and cash advances on the transaction date.
Fees
- Annual Fee
- $0 for the first year
$95 thereafter
- $0 for the first year
- Fees for Balance Transfer
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Fees for Cash Advances
- Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Penalty Fees
- 29.99%
- Return Payment
- Up to $40
- Late Payment
- Up to $40
- Return Check
- None
Pros & Cons
- 2x miles rewards program
- Sign up bonus
- Free checked bag
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- Two one-day club passes per year
- Annual fee
- High APR
Features
- No foreign transaction fees
- Payment Flexibility
- Fraud Protection
- Rewards
- Purchase Protection
- Extended Warranty Protection
- Travel
- Airline
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement
- Baggage Delay Insurance
- Award Travel seats
- Trip Cancellation
- Auto Rental Insurance
- 24/7 Travel Assistant
- Airport Lounge Access
- Good Credit
- Excellent Credit
About the issuer
Compare with other cards
- $95Annual Fee
- 19.99% - 29.99%Regular APR
- 5xMiles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- NonePurchase Intro APR
- NoneAnnual Fee
- 19.99% - 29.99%Regular APR
- 5%Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 15 months that your account is openPurchase Intro APR
- NoneAnnual Fee
- 19.99% - 29.99%Regular APR
- 1.5%Cash Back on all purchases.
- NonePurchase Intro APR
See Another Credit Cards in the Bank
Unitedā Explorer Card Review
This article will review the Unitedā Explorer card from Chase and United Airlines that allows you to easily rack up bonus miles.
The Unitedā Explorer card from Chase rewards you with two miles for every dollar you spend on United purchases, dining, and hotel accommodation. A generous sign-up bonus and several travel-related benefits, like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bag, and free club passes, make the card worthwhile for people who frequently fly with United Airlines. Even though thereās a moderate annual fee, you can easily make up for it with the perks the card offers.
Unitedā Explorer Card: pros and cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| 2X miles rewards program. Every $1 you spend on hotel stays, dining experiences, and United purchases, earn two bonus miles. | Annual fee. The card has an annual fee of $95. Luckily, this is waived for the first year. |
| Sign up bonus. You can get 50,000 bonus miles as a signup bonus (after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open). | High APR. The cardās variable APR can reach as high as 28.74%. |
| Free checked bag. You and any companion traveling on the same reservation will have first checked bag free on any flight operated by United. Considering a single checked bag costs $35, you can save up to $140 for a round trip. | |
| Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. Every four years, youāll get $100 in credit to pay for Global Entry or TSA Precheck fees. | |
| Two one-day club passes per year. These passes grant you entry into the United Club, the airline's premium airport lounge, for a day. A single-day pass costs $59. |
Rewards system in a nutshell
With the Unitedā Explorer Cardās rewards system, you will earn two miles for every dollar you spend on qualifying purchases. These purchases include hotel accommodation purchased directly with the hotel, meals at restaurants or eligible delivery services, and United purchases (e.g., plane tickets and in-flight beverages, food, Wi-Fi, and other services). However, this doesnāt mean that you donāt get miles on any other purchases. In fact, youāre given one mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Of course, the most obvious way to redeem the miles is to use them to claim a free flight or to get an upgrade. However, you can also use them on other redemption options, including:
- Hotel Awards - you can use miles to book stays at hotels and resorts worldwide
- Car Awards - miles can be used for renting a car with HertzĀ®, DollarTM and more.
- Cruise Awards - miles can be used for booking a cruise
- Merchandise Awards - you can shop for electronics, housewares, jewelry and more with the miles
- Apple - miles can be redeemed to buy products like iPhone, iPod, MacBook and more
- MileagePlus X - you can use MileagePlus X app to make purchases with the miles
- MileagePlus eGift cards - miles can used for purchasing gift cards of more than 270 merchants
- MileagePlus Exclusives - have an access to unique experiences using the miles
- MileagePlus Event Awards and Broadway show - you can get tickets to different concerts, theater events as well as Broadway shows with the miles
The MileagePlus program also allows you to buy, transfer or donate miles.
The beauty about the MileagePlus miles is that they never expire. That means you can redeem them whenever you are ready. Furthermore, you can earn as many miles as you want.
Who can benefit from getting the Unitedā Explorer Card from Chase?
It comes as no surprise that the Unitedā Explorer Card will be most beneficial to United loyalists. It allows them to earn miles through the 2X miles rewards program quickly. These miles can be redeemed for free flights and other travel-related benefits offered by United and its partner airlines.
But what about non-United Loyalists? Anyone who frequently travels for business or leisure will also be able to earn bonus miles quickly because the 2X miles rewards program applies to hotel stays. The same goes for people who regularly dine out but travel occasionally. Still, this can make one wonder if this is enough to justify paying the Unitedā Explorer Cardās annual fee. Luckily, the free club passes and checked bag perks should be enough to offset it. Overall, the card should be worth considering even if you fly United occasionally.
Are there any other benefits?
The Unitedā Explorer Card has several other benefits that make it more attractive and set apart from general travel cards. Here are the ones worth mentioning:
- Priority boarding: Would you like to board a United-operated flight before general boarding to find more time to settle down? You and any companion on the same reservation will get priority boarding when providing MileagePlusĀ® number on the reservation.
- Save 25% on in-flight purchases: When you purchase food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on any United flight using the card, you will get a 25% discount (in the form of a statement credit).
- Primary car rental insurance: When you rent a car using the Unitedā Explorer Card, you get primary coverage on your car rental insurance. That means you will be reimbursed in full should the vehicle get damaged or stolen.
- Purchase protection: If a newly-purchased item gets damaged or stolen within the first 120 days, you can get compensated if it was purchased using the Unitedā Explorer Card. You can claim up to $10,000 per item.
- Luxury hotel and resort perks: Get various paid-for amenities for free when you stay at a United-approved hotel or resort. These amenities can include breakfast, Wi-Fi vouchers, and late check-out (if available).
- Reimbursement for lost luggage: If a carrier damages or loses luggage belonging to you or anyone on the same reservation, you can claim up to $3,000 each.
- Trip cancellation insurance: If you paid a non-refundable fare for a trip that has been canceled or interrupted by circumstances beyond your control, you can get reimbursement up to $1,500 per person. The total you can claim is $6,000 per trip.
- Reimbursement for baggage delays: If your luggage has been delayed over 6 hours, you will be compensated for all spending on basic necessities up to $100 per day for 3 days.
- Zero transaction fees on foreign purchases: Some cards charge foreign transaction fees when you make purchases abroad. The Unitedā Explorer Card does not charge you anything.
Conclusion
It is hard not to recommend the Unitedā Explorer Card from Chase to anyone who is a fan of the airline. The card offers a chance to quickly earn miles that can be redeemed for free tickets and other airline-specific comforts and conveniences to make the trip more enjoyable. Coupling that with perks like priority boarding and a 25% discount on in-flight purchases, United loyalists will be very happy twith the card.
While some might be concerned about paying the annual fee after the first year, frequent travelers and foodies donāt need to be since benefits like free checked bag and club passes can help cover that. Even the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit contributes to the annual fee every four years. Also, the 2X miles reward program can make it worth their while. Thatās because frequent travelers and foodies can use the miles on a wide range of redemption options, from hotel benefits and Broadway tickets to Apple products and gift cards.
Although the United Explorerā Cardās variable APR starts from 21.74%, we didnāt like how it can get as high as 28.74%. But considering that the card is for people with a good-to-excellent credit score, it shouldnāt be a major concern.
FAQ
What is the customer service phone number for Unitedā Explorer Card?
How to check my application status for Unitedā Explorer Card?
Is the Unitedā Explorer card worth it?
- $150Annual Fee
- None *Regular APR
- 5%Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- None *Purchase Intro APR